Device for treatment of bloat of ruminants

ABSTRACT

An instrument for the treatment of chronic bloat of ruminants. The instrument has two L-shaped halves and a collar that fits over the corresponding legs of each half to hold the instrument in its assembled relationship after insertion. After an incision is made in the skin, muscles, peritoneum and rumen of the ruminant to be treated, the leg of one half is inserted and then the leg of the other half. The halves are then joined and the collar placed in position to hold the instrument together and in place for an indefinite period of time.

United States Patent [191 McIntosh Dec. 24, 1974 DEVICE FOR TREATMENT OFBLOAT OF RUMINANTS [76] Inventor: Arthur J. McIntosh, La Porte City,

Iowa 50651 22 Filed: Oct. 1,1973

21 Appl. No.: 402,191

[52] US. Cl. 128/347, 128/350 R [51] Int. Cl. A6lb 17/34, A6lm 27/00[58] Field of Search 128/347, 305, 214.4, 347,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,201,749 5/1940 Vandergrift128/347 X 3,039,468 6/1962 Price 128/347 3,127,894 4/1964 Smith 128/3473,653,388 4/1972 Tenckhoff 128/347 3,717,151 2/1973 Collett 128/347Primary Examiner-Aldrich F. Medbery Attorney, Agent, or Firm-James C.Nemmers; Haven E. Simmons [57] ABSTRACT An instrument for the treatmentof chronic bloat of ruminants. The instrument has two L-shaped halvesand a collar that fits over the corresponding legs of each half to holdthe instrument in its assembled relationship after insertion. After anincision is made in the skin, muscles, peritoneum and rumen of theruminant to be treated, the leg of one half is inserted and then the legof the other half. The halves are then joined and the collar placed inposition to hold the instrument together and in place for an indefiniteperiod of time.

12 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR TREATMENT OF BLOAT OF RUMINANTSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The problem of bloat in ruminants such ascattle is a relatively common and sometimes serious condition. Temporaryrelief from bloat can be accomplished by puncturing through the varioustissues leading into the rumen and inserting a tube to permit the fluidscausing the bloat to escape. Upon withdrawal of the tube, the woundcaused by the puncture will rapidly heal. However, chronic bloat inruminants obviously cannot be treated in this same manner. In the caseof chronic bloat, there are known in the prior art devices which can befitted in place after an incision into the rumen is made to continuouslyrelieve the bloat caused by fluids in the rumen. Such prior art devices,however, cannot be used over a long period of time since in some casesthe opening into the rumen will be blocked by tissue growth attemptingto heal the wound. In other prior art devices, the skill of aveterinarian is required in order to use the device thus increasing thecost to the owner of the ruminant. In many other prior art devices, thecost of the device itself is relatively high, and with such devices,they must be removed before the ruminant is shipped to market. There is,therefore, a need for an inexpensive, disposable device for thetreatment of chronic bloat in ruminants which device can be employed bythe layman and left in place in the-ruminant indefinitely.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The device of the invention is an instrumentmade of two substantially identical halves combined with a collar. Eachhalf is somewhat L-shaped with one leg of the L providing a tongue andthe other leg providing half of a circular hollow tube. After anincision is made into the rumen, one of the halves is inserted throughthe incision with the tongue being inserted first. The half is thenturned approximately 90 so that the tongue lies along the inside of therumen with the other leg extending through the incision. The other halfis then similarly inserted and the two halves joined thus forming ahollow tube extending through the incision. A collar is then slippedover the end of the tube that extends outside of the skin of theruminant and the collar is adjustably locked in place thus holding theinstrument in place until the collar is subsequently released and theinstrument removed. If desired, a cap may be removably inserted into thehollow tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The preferred embodiment of the inventiondescribed in detail hereinafter illustrates a disposable device which ispreferably formed from a plastic material.

However, the material used in the manufacture of the device forms nopart of the invention.

A device constructed according to the principles of the invention iscomprised of three basic components,

these being two substantially identical halves I0 and 12 and a collar14. The half 12 has a tongue 16 that preferably has a rounded end 18 andthe upper surface of which has rounded edges. The tongue 16 is formedintegrally with and at a substantially right angle to a leg 20 which issemi-circular in cross-section and when joined with the correspondingpart of half 12 forms a hollow tube 22. Leg 20 preferably has one ormore projections 24 extending outwardly from the axial edges of the leg.

The half 12 is substantially identical to half 10, and thus has a tongue26 formed integrally with and at substantially a right angle to leg 28.Tongue 26 also has a rounded end 30 and the upper surfaces of the tongue26 are rounded. Leg 28 has one or more projections 24 which correspondto recesses 32 formed along each axial edge of leg 28. Recesses (notshown) similar to recesses 32 are also formed in leg 20 and correspondin size and location to the projections 24 on leg 28. The projections 24and recesses 32 thus serve to assure proper alignment of the two halves10 and 12 when the instrument is assembled and to aid in maintaining theinstrument in assembled condition.

When the two halves l0 and 12 are assembled, collar 14 can be fittedover the hollow tube 22. Thus, the interior diameter of collar 14 isslightly larger than the exterior diameter of the hollow tube 22. Collar14 preferably has a central annular projection 34 and an outwardlyextending annular flange 36 which, when the instrument is assembled andin place in a ruminant, keeps the instrument from slipping to the insideof the rumen and also aids in maintaining the instrument tightly inplace. When the instrument is in assembled condition and positioned in aruminant, collar 14 can be positioned axially along tube 22 in anydesired position depending upon the thickness of the skin, muscles,peritoneum and wall of the rumen all represented by the referencenumeral 37. To maintain the collar 14 in a selected position, there arepreferably provided locking means 38 which are preferably formedintergrally with the collar 14 and include flexible arms 40 permanentlyattaching to the collar 14 and T-shaped pins 42 formed at the outer endsof the flexible arms 40. A plurality of elongated openings 44 areaxially spaced along the leg 20 of half 10 and leg 28 of half 12. Theopenings 44 are elongated in an axial direction, and the T-shaped pins42 would normally be in a position transverse to the long axis ofopenings 44. Thus, when the collar 14 is slipped over the tube 22 andpositioned at the desired place, the flexible arms 40 can be twisted sothat the T- shaped pins 42 can be inserted through the selected openings44 with the resiliency of the flexible arms 40 causing the T-shaped pinsto rotate so that they are crosswise of the openings 44 inside of thetube 22. This thus serves to lock the collar positively in place on thetube 22 so that it cannot be removed without first twisting flexiblearms 40 until the T-shaped pins 42 are in alignment with the openings 44and withdrawn through the openings 44 from the inside of tube 22.

The use of the device of the invention should be evident from theforegoing description. However, to summarize its use, an incision ofsufiicient size to admit a tongue 16 or tongue 26 is made through theskin, muscles, peritoneum and wall of the rumen. One of the halves(e.g., half 10) is grasped by holding leg 20 and then the tongue 16 isinserted through the incision and into the rumen at which time the halfis rotated approximately 90 until the tongue 16 lies along the inside ofthe wall of the rumen. The second half 12 is then similarly inserted,and the leg is joined to the leg 28 with the projections 24 fitted intorecesses 32. The collar 14 is then slipped over the tube 22 until theflange 36 rests securely against the skin of the ruminant. Collar 14 canbe positioned with projection 34 extending either outwardly as shown inthe drawings or inwardly in which case projection 34 would extend intothe incision. The T-shaped pins 42 are then inserted through theopenings 44 to lock the collar 14 in its selected position. If desired,a tube or cannula may be inserted through the hollow tube 22 so thatfrothy material or liquid can be withdrawn from the rumen.

Once in place, the instrument of the invention can be left in theruminant indefinitely. Generally, this takes 2 to 6 weeks but sometimeslonger until the animal is ruminating regularly. At that time theinstrument is easily removed and can be disposed of or reused. The woundformed by the incision when the instrument was inserted will readilyheal. However, if the instrument is left in place, the tongues 16 and 26will prevent the tissue from growing over the opening and defeating thepurpose of the instrument. If desired, a plug (now shown) can beinserted into the hollow tube 22 to prevent foreign matter from gettinginto the rumen. However, this is not necessary.

The device of the invention is obviously very simple and can bemanufactured at a relatively low cost. The procedure can be done in avery short time of approximately 5 minutes. Once explained, theprocedure can be accomplished by a layman thus saving the fee of aveterinarian.

Although only the preferred embodiment of the invention has beendisclosed herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatvarious revisions and modifications can be made in the preferredembodiment I without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. For example, separate locking pins of a variety of typescould be used in place of the locking pins 38 illustrated herein. Also,the hollow tube 22 and collar 14 could be threaded so that the collarwould be screwed down tightly when the instrument is assembled. It is myintention, therefore, that these and all other revisions andmodifications which are obvious to those skilled in the art will beincluded within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. A device for the treatment of bloat in ruminants including a meansfor providing a removable passageway through the tissues of the ruminantleading into its rumen, said device comprising a first component havinga first member forming a longitudinal trough-like portion of apassageway open at its ends and a second member extending from saidfirst member substantially at a right angle outwardly and away from saidpassageway, a second component separably connected to said firstcomponent and also having a first member forming a longitudinaltrough-like portion of said passageway and a second member extendingsubstantially at a right angle from said first member outwardly and awayfrom said passageway, the first members of said first and secondcomponents defining a means for forming a tubular passageway when saidtrough-like portions are assembled in connected relationship, and meansfor maintaining said components in fixed assembled relationship to eachother and in sealing contact with said tissues, said means alsoproviding for separation of said components when the device isdisassembled.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said means is a collar and cooperateswith said second members when said device is assembled to hold saiddevice in place on a ruminant.

3. The device of claim 1 in which said first and second components areidentical in construction.

4. The device of claim 3 in which the first member of each of saidcomponents forms of a hollow cylinder, and the second member extendsfrom one end of the first member transversely to the axis of saidcylinder.

5. The device of claim 4 in which each of said first members has aprojection extending from a longitudinal edge thereof and a recess in alongitudinal edge thereof, the projection of one of said first memberscorresponding in size and location to the recess in the other of saidfirst members so that a projection will extend into a correspondingrecess when said first and second components are properly assembled.

6. The device of claim 4 in which said means is a collar having aninterior opening corresponding to the exterior configuration of saidfirst members when said first members are assembled, said collar beingremovably positioned on said first members when said device isassembled.

7. The device of claim 6 in which there is provided locking meansselectively to limit the movement of said collar along said assembledfirst members in a direction away from said second members.

8. The device of claim 7 in which said locking means provides forselectively varying the distance within which movement of said collar isso limited.

9. The device of claim 8 in which said first members are provided with aplurality of openings spaced longitudinally along their length, and saidlocking means includes a locking pin insertable in a selected one ofsaid openings.

10. The device of claim 1 in which said means is a collar having aninterior opening corresponding to the exterior configuration of saidfirst members when said first members are assembled, said collar beingremovably positioned on said first members when said device isassembled.

11. The device of claim 2 in which said collar means has an interioropening corresponding to the exterior configuration of said firstmembers when said first members are assembled, said collar beingremovably positioned on said first members when said device isassembled.

12. The device of claim 1 1 in which said collar means has an outwardlyextending flange adapted to be engagable with the outer skin of theruminant when said device is assembled with said collar means positionedon said first members.

1. A device for the treatment of bloat in ruminants including a meansfor providing a removable passageway through the tissues of the ruminantleading into its rumen, said device comprising a first component havinga first member forming a longitudinal trough-like portion of apassageway open at its ends and a second member extending from saidfirst member substantially at a right angle outwardly and away from saidpassageway, a second component separably connected to said firstcomponent and also having a first member forming a longitudinaltrough-like portion of said passageway and a second member extendingsubstantially at a right angle from said first member outwardly and awayfrom said passageway, the first members of said first and secondcomponents defining a means for forming a tubular passageway when saidtrough-like portions are assembled in connected relationship, and meansfor maintaining said components in fixed assembled relationship to eachother and in sealing contact with said tissues, said means alsoproviding for separation of said components when the device isdisassembled.
 2. The device of claim 1 in which said means is a collarand cooperates with said second members when said device is assembled tohold said device in place on a ruminant.
 3. The device of claim 1 inwhich said first and second components are identical in construction. 4.The device of claim 3 in which the first member of each of saidcomponents forms 1/2 of a hollow cylinder, and the second member extendsfrom one end of the first member transversely to the axis of saidcylinder.
 5. The device of claim 4 in which each of said first membershas a projection extending from a longitudinal edge thereof and a recessin a longitudinal edge thereof, the projection of one of said firstmembers corresponding in size and location to the recess in the other ofsaid first members so that a projection will extend into a correspondingrecess when said first and second components are properly assembled. 6.The device of claim 4 in which said means is a collar having an interioropening corresponding to the exterior configuration of said firstmembers when said first members are assembled, said collar beingremovably positioned on said first members when said device isassembled.
 7. The device of claim 6 in which there is provided lockingmeans selectively to limit the movement of said collar along saidassembled first members in a direction away from said second members. 8.The device of claim 7 in which said locking means provides forselectively varying the distance within which movement of said collar isso limited.
 9. The device of claim 8 in which said first members areprovided with a plurality of openings spaced longitudinally along theirlength, and said locking means includes a locking pin insertable in aselected one of said openings.
 10. The device of claim 1 in which saidmeans is a collar having an interior opening corresponding to theexterior configuration of said first members when said first members areassembled, said collar being removably positioned on said first memberswhen said device is assembled.
 11. The device of claim 2 in which saidcollar means has an interior opening corresponding to the exteriorconfiguration of said first members when said first members areassembled, said collar being removably positioned on said first memberswhen said device is assembled.
 12. The device of claim 11 in which saidcollar means has an outwardly extending flange adapted to be engagablewith the outer skin of the ruminant when said device is assembled withsaid collar means positioned on said first members.